04-14-2023, 02:57 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-21-2023, 11:23 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
I was in a coffee shop off Yuma Court. and W. 11th Avenue in downtown Amsterdam when my cell phone rang. It was GM @Alikh on the phone welcoming me to his team the London Royals!
We had a nice chat about where the team currently stood, and where they wanted to go.
I was given a huge decision.
Continue my career as a Cornerback, or take a huge leap and accept the starting Quarterback job for the London Royals. Frankly, I was over the moon. I'd always dreamed of moving to a more prominent position, and being given the chance so quickly was like a dream come true. I quickly accepted the offer and let my new General Manager know I'd be on the next flight to jolly old London.
I finished my "coffee" and booked my flight across the English Channel to join my new team.
After a short ride to the airport with a overly friendly Dutch cab driver I boarded my British Airways flight and headed to my new home in London. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head, the quick hour and a half flight didn't give me much time to really get my bearings on what was in front of me, but I was lucky to have some great fellow rookies waiting for me when I landed.
I first met @Martin.Bachman during the prospect bowl games. We were on opposing teams at the time but I did notice his physicality and drive while on the field opposite from me. Upon our reunion we both learned we were taking a similar journey, new positions with our new team. I think we were both pretty excited about the prospect of contributing in a new role. He was switching over to a Running Back, so I felt it would be good to start off on the right foot.
We hit the town for lunch and acquainted ourselves with our new home city. There was a little fish and chips spot not far from Victoria Station that let us have an authentic English meal. I thought the chips were pretty decent overall, though the fish was a bit dry for my liking. I told Marty about the first time I ever visited London.
See, I was 17 at the time, broke, but able to drink legally anywhere that wasn't too discerning. Now, that canceled out the tourist bars, but the quiet pubs were my sweet spot, they just wanted a few pounds, and I just wanted a pint. So after throwing back a few pints with my friend we headed for the tube to head back to where his father's flat was, Brixton. Now I don't know how many of you have been to Brixton, but in the words of the Cop that stopped me one morning to ask if I was smoking a "funny cigarette", it's shit... so here we are headed to the tube to go over to the shit part of town to call it a night.
It had just rained and the metal stairs down to the tube was very slick.
Apparently my shoes had no grip, I'm talking none... so my foot hits the top metal stair which is soaked from a fresh rain, and I go ass over end down this flight of metal stairs. I'm fine, I'm young, I'm in good shape, but... I hear this laughing... and it's not from my friend... no... It's from this sweet looking old british lady... doesn't even ask me if I'm okay. Just laughs and walks past me. This is a completely true story by the way. It really happened, June of 2003, and I will never forget that old lady. If I find her.... ok we are getting side tracked, anyway. Marty and I had a really good lunch. We bonded, I think he's gonna name his first born after me if I can get him a TD record.
After Lunch, we went on to our teams Locker Room and began to meet our new teammates. I had already spoken with @katarn22 when he scouted me, so I made sure to see him first and thank him for putting in such good words for me to management. He let me know who the other GM was @"Sizzle", who I had spoken with a few days earlier regarding a sweet pixel graphic for my player. I got to say, these two GM's are just the most helpful a rookie could ask for. Even when I want to change my player likeness to something ridiculous, so supportive...
During the draft process I joined a few Locker Rooms but London wasn't one of them, not that I didn't enjoy their scout by any means, I just was already in like 4 Locker Rooms at that point.
To say I was surprised to be their first round pick would be an understatement. I figured I'd be happy to go in the top 5 rounds, not the top 5 picks, but to be chosen first by London, and asked to lead the team as QB, wow, what an honor! I've been really happy with how much support they've shown me in such a short amount of time. The locker room couldn't have a better atmosphere. I felt right at home immediately.
I was also very impressed with the picks we brought in this draft, between myself, Marty Bachman, The Turd Burglar, Abraham Madden, Adriano Goopert, Carl "The Weez" Weezer, Josef Janssens, Troi Ballamallyou, and That-One-Guy Kyle we are set up for a great foundation of young players to join our Veterans and get us the Championship. I honestly had Turd Burglar as the top CB in our draft class so to get him on our team and let him take over on that side of the ball is such a huge win. Marty is going to bring the speed on every touch, shaking and baking defenders and leaving them in the dust. Adriano "Goopy" Goopert is going to anchor our Defensive line and eat up ball carriers.
I'm not exactly sure what this season holds for the London Royals. I'm sure someone's working on a season prediction, and it will be a great read. I guarantee one thing for sure. We are gonna have some fun in London!
We had a nice chat about where the team currently stood, and where they wanted to go.
I was given a huge decision.
Continue my career as a Cornerback, or take a huge leap and accept the starting Quarterback job for the London Royals. Frankly, I was over the moon. I'd always dreamed of moving to a more prominent position, and being given the chance so quickly was like a dream come true. I quickly accepted the offer and let my new General Manager know I'd be on the next flight to jolly old London.
I finished my "coffee" and booked my flight across the English Channel to join my new team.
After a short ride to the airport with a overly friendly Dutch cab driver I boarded my British Airways flight and headed to my new home in London. I had a lot of thoughts going through my head, the quick hour and a half flight didn't give me much time to really get my bearings on what was in front of me, but I was lucky to have some great fellow rookies waiting for me when I landed.
I first met @Martin.Bachman during the prospect bowl games. We were on opposing teams at the time but I did notice his physicality and drive while on the field opposite from me. Upon our reunion we both learned we were taking a similar journey, new positions with our new team. I think we were both pretty excited about the prospect of contributing in a new role. He was switching over to a Running Back, so I felt it would be good to start off on the right foot.
We hit the town for lunch and acquainted ourselves with our new home city. There was a little fish and chips spot not far from Victoria Station that let us have an authentic English meal. I thought the chips were pretty decent overall, though the fish was a bit dry for my liking. I told Marty about the first time I ever visited London.
See, I was 17 at the time, broke, but able to drink legally anywhere that wasn't too discerning. Now, that canceled out the tourist bars, but the quiet pubs were my sweet spot, they just wanted a few pounds, and I just wanted a pint. So after throwing back a few pints with my friend we headed for the tube to head back to where his father's flat was, Brixton. Now I don't know how many of you have been to Brixton, but in the words of the Cop that stopped me one morning to ask if I was smoking a "funny cigarette", it's shit... so here we are headed to the tube to go over to the shit part of town to call it a night.
It had just rained and the metal stairs down to the tube was very slick.
Apparently my shoes had no grip, I'm talking none... so my foot hits the top metal stair which is soaked from a fresh rain, and I go ass over end down this flight of metal stairs. I'm fine, I'm young, I'm in good shape, but... I hear this laughing... and it's not from my friend... no... It's from this sweet looking old british lady... doesn't even ask me if I'm okay. Just laughs and walks past me. This is a completely true story by the way. It really happened, June of 2003, and I will never forget that old lady. If I find her.... ok we are getting side tracked, anyway. Marty and I had a really good lunch. We bonded, I think he's gonna name his first born after me if I can get him a TD record.
After Lunch, we went on to our teams Locker Room and began to meet our new teammates. I had already spoken with @katarn22 when he scouted me, so I made sure to see him first and thank him for putting in such good words for me to management. He let me know who the other GM was @"Sizzle", who I had spoken with a few days earlier regarding a sweet pixel graphic for my player. I got to say, these two GM's are just the most helpful a rookie could ask for. Even when I want to change my player likeness to something ridiculous, so supportive...
During the draft process I joined a few Locker Rooms but London wasn't one of them, not that I didn't enjoy their scout by any means, I just was already in like 4 Locker Rooms at that point.
To say I was surprised to be their first round pick would be an understatement. I figured I'd be happy to go in the top 5 rounds, not the top 5 picks, but to be chosen first by London, and asked to lead the team as QB, wow, what an honor! I've been really happy with how much support they've shown me in such a short amount of time. The locker room couldn't have a better atmosphere. I felt right at home immediately.
I was also very impressed with the picks we brought in this draft, between myself, Marty Bachman, The Turd Burglar, Abraham Madden, Adriano Goopert, Carl "The Weez" Weezer, Josef Janssens, Troi Ballamallyou, and That-One-Guy Kyle we are set up for a great foundation of young players to join our Veterans and get us the Championship. I honestly had Turd Burglar as the top CB in our draft class so to get him on our team and let him take over on that side of the ball is such a huge win. Marty is going to bring the speed on every touch, shaking and baking defenders and leaving them in the dust. Adriano "Goopy" Goopert is going to anchor our Defensive line and eat up ball carriers.
I'm not exactly sure what this season holds for the London Royals. I'm sure someone's working on a season prediction, and it will be a great read. I guarantee one thing for sure. We are gonna have some fun in London!